Beauchamp named Business Woman of the Year – Honored during chamber’s 4th Annual Palo Verde Award Gala

Ahwatukee attorney Melanie Beauchamp was named Business Woman of the Year by the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce during the Fourth Annual Palo Verde Award Gala on Saturday, Nov. 2.

“I feel honored and grateful to have won this award and be included in this group of women,” Beauchamp said. “We heard some of their accomplishments, but let me tell you it is only a fraction of what these women really do. They are amazing, kind and supportive. Where else can you find a community where you walk in a room and you’re really happy to see everyone. Anytime you need assistance anyone will give it to you. That’s what it’s all about. It’s about community”

Beauchamp was one of 13 nominees for the award this year. It is given to a local woman entrepreneur who shows excellence in business and is active in the community.

Beauchamp is the owner and principal of Oracle Law Group, Arizona’s largest certified woman-owned law firm. She has tried more than 300 trials and lectures and teaches attorneys how to prepare and litigate cases. Beauchamp serves as president of the Lorna Lockwood Inn of Court and as vice chair on the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee. She also serves on the board of the Festival of Lights, mentors foster children from Hope and Future, and contributes to the Special Olympics Advocacy Resources Program, Ahwatukee Foothills Soccer and Valley Youth Football. She has received several awards over the years including Arizona Companies to watch 2009, the 2009 ASBA Award, and had nominations for the Athena Award and the Palo Verde Award. Beauchamp is also an award-winning author for her book, “DUI: The Next Day.”

“I remember seeing this house a long time ago that was owned by Terri’s Consign and Design and I saw some newspaper article and thought, ‘I want that house,’” she said during the gala. “At the time it was just a dream, but I worked and worked and some friends of mine helped me move into the home. It was a fixer-upper. A friend of mine said, ‘Congratulations you did it yourself.’ I was about to agree with him, but I was wrong. I realized I did it with the support of community and the people I turned to for help and assistance and support, and many of them are here tonight. That’s what it’s about. This award is not about me or anyone in particular. It is about what Ahwatukee provides us as female entrepreneurs who want to succeed. For that I’m grateful.”

During the event the chamber also awarded two Ahwatukee high school students with a $1,000 scholarship. Jasmine Coro of Desert Vista High School and Anja Asato of Horizon Honors High School were the recipients this year.

The chamber was able to raise more than $7,000 during a live auction at the gala. Those funds will go toward future scholarships and chamber activities.

For more information on the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce, visit ahwatukeechamber.com.